By Katie Bowman, Saturday, Sep 3, 2011, 8:00 AM

The House

About this Hotel

Price From $71

Talk about a grand entrance. The first thing guests see at this nearly year-old B&B in central Lisbon is a sweeping spiral staircase, set off by bold wallpaper and crowned with a whimsical white-daisy chandelier. A calmer style prevails in the nine guest rooms, thanks to a subdued palette and minimalist flourishes. Still, if you ask owner Francisco Cansado Carvalho for the sweet spot in this converted 1950s apartment block—which his grandfather built and his family has inhabited for the better part of the past 50 years—he might ignore the interiors entirely. After all, what could outdo the rooftop sunroom and its views of the medieval Castelo de São Jorge?